Geometric Working Drawing of a Gothic Tierceron Vault in Seville Cathedral

Abstract

Some of the pavements in Seville Cathedral still display full-scale geometric working drawings (known as monteas in Spanish) of architectural elements, such as flying buttresses, arches and windows. We have recently discovered a new one, which was completed in the final stage of the Gothic work between 1490 and 1506. The documentation, coupled with the mapping and geometric analysis of the drawing found and its comparison with the examples reproduced in architectural manuscripts and printed books, confirms that it corresponds to the construction of a vault with diagonal ribs and tiercerons. Our aim here is to present, document and decipher the keys to a rare example of a geometric drawing for this type of vault, which may in turn furnish interesting data about geometric systems for controlling form and how they were used in stone construction processes at a fascinating time in the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture.

Architectural Graphics Research: Topics and Trends through Cluster and Map Network Analyses

“…This field also includes geometry theories, such as the design process of complex vaults [39] (see Figure 2c), the geometric and symbolic approaches in medieval Gothic constructions and their comparison with other designs [40] (see Figure 2b), the proportions of the design criteria of ecclesiastical buildings through graphic re-composition [41], the study of its traces [42][43][44] (see Figure 2a), the categorization of the geometric solutions of vaults in a geographical area [45] and the analysis of dimensions of century walls to find out their construction rules at the end of the 13th century [46]. In this case, the images provide different CAD overlay techniques.…”